Tension devicess for embroidery machines



Dec. 5, 1967 J. A. URSCHELER 3,

TENSION DEVICES FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES Filed Dec. 50, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 1 J'ACK ANTON URSCHELL'R Ly a/QM A'ITORNEY Dec. 5, 1967 J.A. URSCHELER TENSION DEVICES FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES Filed Dec.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JACK ANTON UASCHELER ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1967 J.A. URSCHELER 3,356,050

TENSION DEVICES FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES Filed Dec. 30, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR JAC/(ANTON URSCl-IELER ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1967 J. A.URSCHELER 3,356,050

TENSION DEVICES FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES WW W! .WW.

Hat/7 9/ 92 92a 97 MU 5W FIG. l6.

I NVENTOR JAG/(ANTON URSCHELER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,356,050TENSION DEVICES FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES Jack Anton Urscheler, 5Ellington Place, Englewood Clifis, NJ. 07632 Filed Dec. 30, 1964, Ser.No. 442,563 5 Claims. (Cl. 11297) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Yarntensioning means for Schifili and other types of embroidery machineshaving reciprocating needles provided with means for drawing threadsfrom spools. The tensioning means have a plurality of longitudinallyarranged pairs of tension control discs between the needles and thespools, the two discs of each pair being movable relative to each otherto engage and release respective threads therebetween, the pairs ofdiscs being simultaneously actuated between their respective limitingpositions in timed relation to the operative movements of the needles.

This invention relates to yarn tensioning means for Schiffli or othertypes of embroidery machines.

Conventional machines employ a roller-generally called an emeryrollerextending lengthwise of the machine, the yarn from appropriatespools at the rear of the machine being fed to the roller and wrappedaround it four or five times so as to prevent a slippage of the yarnextending from the roller to the needle. In such apparatus the operativepulls of the threads behind the emery roller cause said roller to rotatein the direction of the pulls, thereby also causing, with each operativerotation of the roller, yarn to be drawn up from the spools by the pullproduced by the roller. At one end of the roller there is a brake andlocking mechanism to control the operative feeding tension of the yarnfrom the roller to the needles. The brake, with a felt or leather shoe,has a dragging function so that for certain types of stitching theroller permits a feed under a predetermined yarn tension. The saidlocking mechanism, containing an arrangement of blades which coact withcomponents at the end of the roller, serves to stop its motionmomentari- 1y, thereby eflecting an intermittent feed required forrelatively tight or flat stitching. Both the drag and locking mechanismsare controlled either by a jacquard mechanism or by manual means.

In the above-mentioned conventional construction there are generally anumber of friction discs positioned between the roller and the spools,each of these discs consisting of two spring-loaded frusto-conicalmembers yieldably engaging therebetween the yarn being pulled up by theroller from the spool. These are used in an attempt to maintain uniformtension in the yarn being fed from the spools to the rollerthe action ofthese discs being intended to offset the greater tenison in the yarnscoming from the heavier spools.

There are a number of disadvantages in the use of the above-mentionedconventional emery roller, perhaps the most outstanding shortcomingbeing the need manually to wrap the yarn around the rollers-from one tofive times, as aforesaid. Since there are between about 700 to 1100yarns to be wrapped around, this process takes several hours. Anotherdisadvantage of the conventional emery roller arrangement is that it isadapted for use with one color or type of yarn; and if it becomesnecessary to change the color or type of yarn, it is required to removefrom the machine one color or type before applying the other. If thiswere not done, the old or non-used yarn would tend to accumulate aroundthe roller since it is caused to rotate under the operative pullingaction of the yarns therebehind. The disadvantage of the use of theconventional tension discs above mentioned, coactively employed with theconventional emery roller, is that since each pair of coactive discs isindependent from the others there must be separate, independent manualsettings for each pair of discs in accordance with the gauge of theyarns-a time-consuming and costly process. Moreover, after the initialadjustment of the discs, the progressive using up of the yarns causesdifferences in tension of the yarn extending from the differentspoolsthe heavier or fuller spools resulting in greater yarn tension andtighter stitching than that resulting from the lighter or less fullspools.

Among the objects of this invention is the elimination of theshortcomings of conventional Schifili embroidery machines abovementioned. This is accomplished in part by the elimination of the use ofan emery roller or equivalent roller. In lieu thereof there is a tensioncontrol device comprising a plurality of sets of coactive friction discswhich extend along the entire length of the machine, adjacent pairs ofthese discs frictionally engaging therebetween threads from therespective spools for feeding action rearwardly to the needles. Thearrangement is such that by the operation of a single control thefrictional grips applied by the said discs to the respective threadsengaged thereby are simultaneously set, Without the need for anyindividual setting and without the need to perform the time-consumingprocess of Wrapping threads around a roller as in conventionalmachanisms. The tension control discs of this invention are stationaryand are not in any way moved by the pull of the yarns as is the casewith conventional emery rollers which, as aforesaid, are caused to turnwith the operative pulls of the threads. Hence, there is no danger ofthe accumulation of non-used yarn around the tension control device asoccurs with conventional emery rollers Where the previous yarn has notbeen removed. With a change-color Schiflli machine the construction ofthe present invention is such that there are pairs of tension controldiscs for the respective needles using the various selected colors ofthreads. While one selected color or type "of thread is operativelyconnected to the corresponding needles along the entire length of themachine, the other non-selected yarns remain idle and are simplymaintained in immovable relation with respect to their respective discsuntil they are required to be used. There is accordingly considerableflexibility with respect to choice of colors and types of yarn, withoutthe economic waste resulting from the need to employ time-consuminglabor in wrapping yarns around or unwinding yarns from the emery rolleror in individually adjusting tension control members.

It is another object of this invention to enable it to be used with thesame jacquard control mechanisms as are employed in conventionalmachines, or, if desired, by manual means-but without the employment ofthe abovementioned conventional drag and intermittent stop mechanism.The arrangement is such that a simple camming mechanism coacting with anactuating rod varies the frictional grips of all the discs on therespectively engaged yarn in accordance with pre-determined settings.The friction can accordingly be selectively varied to produce yarntensions for various types of stitchesfrom relatively light tensions forcomparatively loose stitches to flat tight stitches resulting fromsufficient gripping force to cause intermittent momentary stopping ofyarn movement.

In accordance with another objective of this invention, the yarns drawnfrom the various spools are all maintained in uniform tension,regardless of the size or weight of the yarn spools. This is effected byan arrangement of rods with which the threads from the various spoolsare interengaged, one of the rods being movable towards and away fromthe tension control device in timed relation to the movement of theshuttles. The arrangement is such as to maintain the yarns directly infront of their tension control discs in untensioned condition during thefeeding of the yarn.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings andthe description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan vew of a Schifili embroidery machineembodying a form of the present invention, the machine being of the typehaving a change-color mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary section of FIG. 1 takensubstantially along line .22, certain portions being shown partly inelevation and partly in section .for clarity, the tension control discsbeing shown in their initial positions, the yarns being omitted.

FIG. 3 is a section of FIG. 2 taken substantially along line 33.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional elevation of FIG. 1 taken substantially alongline 44.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front view of the machine looking the directionof arrows 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view substantially like FIG. 2 but showing the tensioncontrol discs in operative gripping and tensioning positions, portionsbeing removed for clarity.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of FIG. 2 looking substantially in thedirection of arrows 77, portions being removed for clarity, one pair ofdiscs being shown in place engaging a thread.

FIG. 8 is a section of FIG. 7 taken along line 8-8.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a plurality of sect-ions of tensioncontrol discs and associated elements operatively assembled over thedisc-actuating control rod connected to coacting cam components.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged section of FIG. 1 taken substantially along line1010 showing a section .of yarn operatively in place.

FIG. 11 is a top vie-w of FIG. 10 showing .the coacting disc elements intheir initially set positions with respect to an operatively engagedyarn.

FIG. 11a is a view like FIG. 11 but showing the coacting disc elementsin their operative gripping positions relative to the engaged yarn.

FIG. 12 is asection of FIG. ll taken along line 1212.

FIG. 12a is a section of FIG. 1111 taken along line 12a-12a.

FIG. '13 is a side view of the preliminary tension release mechanism ofthis invention in relation to a yarn spool and the corresponding yarntension control discs, the parts being shown in their positions during ayarn feeding pull.

FIG. 14 is a view like FIG. 13 but showing the position of the partsjust prior to the yarn feeding pull posit-ion, showing the yarn in frontof the discs in untensioned condition.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of FIG. 13 taken along line 15-15.

FIG. 16 is a view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, of amodified form of tension control mechanism according to this invention.

FIG. 17 is a section of FIG. 16 taken along line 17-17.

FIG. 18 is a semi-schematic fragmentary plan view of a Sc'hilili machinewithout a color-change mechanism and embodying the yarn tension controlmeans of this invent'ion, showing operative yarns in the needles andnon-used yarns held against displacement by corresponding discs.

In the form of this invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 15, a Schifiliembroidering machine with a change-color mechanism is shown, there beingthree sets of needles for forming stitches of three selected colors, theneedles R (see FIG. '1) carrying red thread, the needles Y carryingyellow thread, and the needles G carrying green thread. The needles areselectively moved into their re- .spective projected or stitching andretracted or inoperative positions by suitable means a description ofwhich is not necessary for an understanding of this invention. In theform illustrated there is an actuator bar 20 reciprocatingly movable inthe directions indicated by the arrows AA, said bar and the membersopera Lively associated therewith being similar to the needle-actuatingmeans shown in the co-pending patent application Ser. No. 295,- 700 thatmatured into Patent No. 3,117,834, although other types of actuators maybe used for needles carrying threads coactively associated with thetension control means of the present invention. Suffice it to say forthe purpose of this specification that the needles R shown in FIG. 1 arein their operative projected positions, that needles G and Y are intheir retracted inoperative positions, that each of the needles issupported by a finger 21 engageable by the said actuator bar 20, andthat all the needles are shown carrying threads, generally identifiedherein by the reference numerals 22, disposed along their respectivethread paths. Said actuator bar '20 is attached to the member 23 (FIG.4) connected to reciprocating means not shown but known to those skilledin the art, whereby operative forward and rearward movements areimparted to the actuating bar 29 and transmitted to the selected set ofneedles, like the needles Rcar-ry-ing threads 22rall in timed relation,to the movement of the shuttles (not shown) and in accordance with astitching pattern determined by the operation of a :coacting jacquardmechanism in known manner. The said threads 22 all extend forwardly to aconventional tension-release and thread pulling mechanism generallydesignated .24, often referred .to in the trade as aFadenleiter,comprising :two parallel 'tlmead-engaging rods 25 and 26 mounted on therespective :arms 27 and '28 which in turn are mounted on and fixedlysecured to the respective shafts '29 :and '30, said shafts beingoperatively connected to operating means not shown but known andunderstood by those versed .in the art. Said shafts 2'9 and 30 move inpredetermined relation to the operative movements of the needles toperform alternate slackening and tightening :actions on the threadsection 22a during the stitching and feeding movements of the needlesand threads. More specifically, the threads from the :spools, referredto generally .as 51, "at the front of the machine, are looped under therod 2s and over said rod 25, the arrangement :being such that as the arm27 operative'ly moves to the broken ,line position (FIG. 4), it createsa slack in said thread section 22a, said arm 27, and shaft 25 thereafterreturning-to the indicated full line position to effect :a rearwardfeeding pull of thread section 22b, the operative movement of the arm 28to the indicated broken-line position at this point adding to thepulling action.

The aspects of the machine to which this invention is particularlydirected are the thread tension control device generally designated 32and the coactively associated preliminary tension release mechanismgenerally designated 33. As will appear from the description hereinaftergiven, the said tension control device 32, which takes the place of theconventional emery roller hereinabove referred to, engages all thethreads from the spools 31 and the said preliminary control mechanism33, and frictionally grips and releases the engaged threads, thegripping action being uniform on all the threads in accordance with apredetermined set-ting, thereby producing prede- .terrnined uniformtensions in said thread sections 2279 (between the tension controldevice 32 and the above described tension release and pulling member.24). in the preferred method of practicing this invention, there is aslight gripping action at the initial or so-called release position, themechanism being such that the [device can he set for a relatively widerange of differential tensions between the initial thread-releasing andthe operative grip ping positions thereof.

In the embodiment of the tension control device 32 as illustrated inFIGURES 1 to 13, there are a plurality .of

pairs of discs 34, 35 slidably and non-rotatably mounted over the sleeve36 extending substantially along the longitudinal extent of the machine,said sleeve slidably housing therein the control rod 37 operativelyconnected to the actuating member 38 for imparting reciprocatinglongitudinal movements to said rod and the associated members, in amanner to be hereinbelow described. The discs have substantially fiatwalls 39 in planes normal to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 36,said walls having congruent central apertures 39a (see FIGS. 7-12a)through which said sleeve 36 extends, the peripheral portions 48constituting circumferential gripping flanges for frictional engagementwith coactively positioned threads. In the form shown, the respectiveflanges 48 of a pair of discs 34, 35 are inwardly curved towards eachother, the respective intermediate portions 41 of said flanges beingperipherally engageable. For each needle there is a pair of discs 34, 35(FIG. 1), the optimum positioning of said pairs of discs being effectedby the use of the cylindrical ,spacers 42 in peripheral engagement withsaid flanges 40 of the adjacent discs and helical springs 43 positionedover the sleeve 36 and in abutting engagement with the adjacent walls 39of the respective discs. The spacers-and springs areshown alternatelyarranged although other arrangements may be employed (see FIGS. 16 and17).

A predetermined number of pairs of discs are arranged in sets, theparticular arrangement illustrated having seven pairs in each set, suchas sets B, C, D and E shown in FIG. 9. Flanking each set are a holdingcollar 44 fixedly attached to the sleeve 36 and a push pin 45 fixedlyattached to the rod 37, said rodextending through diametrically oppositeslots 46 and 47 in the sleeve 36. It is thus apparent that when the rod37 is operatively moved to the left (see FIGS. 2, 6-9), the pins 45constituting push members, moving through the sleeve slots 46 and 47,will be brought into pressing, and pushing relation to the respectiveadjacent pairs of discs 34, 35, slidably moving all the discs to theleft against the action of the springs, the collars 44 holding therespective adjacent pair of discs against movement. The two discs 34, 35of each pair are thus brought together with their adjacent peripheralflanges 40 in pressing engagement with the thread 22 operativelyextending therebetween, the greater the movement of the rod 37 to theleft the greater the frictional grip of the discs upon theirrespectively engaged threads. Conversely, operative movements of rod 37to the right will reducethe grip upon the threads, and if movedcompletely to the right-to the extreme right ends of the said slots 46and 47the threads can be entirely free of the gripping action of thediscs.

It is particularly important to observe that since there are a pluralityof sets of pairs of discs, with a corresponding plurality of collars 44and pins 45, a single operative movement of the control rod 37 willproduce uniform gripping effects upon all the threads operativelyextending through the tension control device 32. The setting of theinitial and final positions of the coactive gripping discs is made inaccordance with the nature of the yarn and the stitching requirements,the tension in the thread sections 22b depending upon the pull of saidmember 24 and the-frictional resistance to such pull effected by thetension control device 32. An extremely tight setting could producecomplete momentary stoppagge of thread movement, thus producing theeffects of the relatively complicated intermittent locking meansemployed on conventional machines. Lighter settings could produce thedragging actions of conventional brake devices.

In the illustrated method of setting the control rod 37 for operatingbetween predetermined initial and final positions, the camming mechanismat 38 is employed. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 9, it will be seenthat the left end 48 of rod 37 is pivotally connected at 49 tolongitudinally movable roller carrier 50 having the three parallel arms51, 52 and 53 supporting the shaft 54 on which are mounted the tworollers 55 and 56. In operative engagement with roller 55 is the cam 57,and in operative engagement with the roller 56 is the cam 58. Cam 57 isconnected to the manual initial-setting rod 59, and cam 58 is connectedto the automatically operated tension control rod 60, the operation ofthese rods being hereinbelow set forth.

FIG. 2 shows cam 57 (behind cam 58) in a slightly lower position thancam 58, whereby its operative surface 61 has engaged the roller 55slightly above its low point 62, the resulting pressure on the roller 55causing the entire carrier 50 to move slightly to the left in thedirection of arrow F. This causes a corresponding movement to the leftof the rod 37, resulting in a relatively slight compression of thesprings 43 and a correspondingly light initial grip of the discs 34, 35on the engaged thread 22, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. When the rod isoperatively actuated downwardly, the cam 58 is brought down to theposition shown in FIG. 6 at which the relatively high point62a of theoperative surface 63 of cam 58 forces the coacting roller 56 to theleft, whereby the entire carrier and the control rod 37 are movedfarther to the left than indicated in FIG. 2. This brings the coactingdiscs 34, 35 into firmer gripping engagement with the thread 22, asindicated in FIGS. 11a and 12athese being the final gripping positionsof the discs which result in the desired predetermined tension in thethread sections 2222 leading to the needles.

For setting cam 57 to its said initial position, the handle 64 (FIG. 4)is manipulated so as to either raise or lower the rod 59 to bring thecam 57 to its desired initial setting. Said handle 64, mounted over theshaft 65, is

operatively connected to the arm 66 connected to rod 59, the set screw67 being manipulated to maintain the rod.

59 in the set position relative to the casing 68, in known manner.

The setting of cam 58 to the desired operative position, such as thatshown in FIG. 6, is effected through the medium of the lever 69 (FIG. 4)pivoted at 70 and connected to the rod 60 at 7 1, the end 72 of lever 69being attached to the rod 73 the bottom end 74 of which is adjustablythreaded into the fitting 75 connected to the actuating lever 76pivotally mounted on shaft 77. Said lever 76 carries the roller 78 whichis positioned to be engaged by the cam 79 during each rotation of thecam shaft 80 operated in timed relation with the needles by means notshown but known to those skilled in the art. With each engagement of cam79 with roller 78 the lever is actuated downwardly against the action ofspring 81, thereby lowering the rod 73, the lever 69, the rod 68 andconsequently the cam 58 to its lower operative position. Upon theoperative upward return movement of the lever 76, the rod 73 returns toits upper position, causing the cam 58 to be raised to its inoperativeor releasing position shown in FIG. 2, whereupon the springs 43 urge thepins 45, rod 37 and carrier 50 to their retracted posi tions, as shownin FIG. 3. Atthis point the discs .34, 35 are in their respectivereleasing positions with respect to the threads 22.

The said preliminary tension release mechanism 33 (see FIGS. 13-15 andFIG. 1)'comprises the rods 82 and 83, the former being stationary andhaving rotatably mounted thereover the hub 84 carrying the oppositelypositioned arms 85 and 86, the latter carrying the said rod 83. The endof arm 85 has the clevis 87 connected to rod 88 the bottom of which ispivotally connected at 89 to the bracket 90 aflixed to said actuatinglever 76. With each operative movement of the latter lever the rod 88will be correspondingly moved, to cause operative movement of said arm86 and the said rod 83 about rod 82. It will be observed that the yarn22 from the spool 31 extends over the movable rod 83, under thestationary rod 82 and rearwardly to the tension control device 32. Whenthe rod 88 is in its operative lower position shown in FIG. 13, the rod83 is in its uppermost position, it having drawn yarn from spool 31 whenrising from a previously lower level. When the rod 88 has been moved toits upper position shown in'FIG. 14, the shaft 83 is brought to itslower position, causing a slackening of the yarn from the spool to thetension control device 32. Since the lever 76 operates in timed relationwith the needle movements, as aforesaid, the operative movement of rod83 is also in timed relation with the needle movements. The arrangementis such that when the yarn is operatively pulled rearwardly towards theneedles, rod 83 is in the position shown in FIG. 14whereby the pull isagainst slack yarn, and therefore not affected by the weight of thespool 31.

The preliminary tension release device 33 illustrated in FIGURES 13 to15 facilitates the smooth operation of the tension control device 32both in its tension producing and tension releasing functions. The yarnsthat are not being stitched, such as the yarn sections 22g and 22yconnected to the retracted needles G and Y, are returned to thecorresponding discs, the yarn ends being maintained there idly until theyarns are to be brought into operation. It is noteworthy that the idleyarns do not have to be removed from the machine, as in the case of theconventional emery rollers, such idle yarns being in position forimmediate use when needed.

A modified form of tension control device is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 inwhich the control rod 37a and sleeve 36a are substantially the same asthe respective corresponding members 37 and 36 of the form abovedescribed, the sleeve having opposing slots 46a and 47a through whichextends the pin 45a attached to said rod 37a, there being a collar 44aattached to the sleeve 36:: substantially in the manner above described.In this modified form, however, there are no spacers and springs betweenthe pairs of discs as in the above described form; instead the pairs ofdiscs 91, 92 each has an extended annular wall 93 joined by a flat endwall 94 with an apertured portion 95 slidably embracing the sleeve 36a.Adjacent walls 94 are in abutment, the proportions of the said annularwalls 93 being such as to position the coacting threadgripping flanges95, 96 in proper predetermined relation to the needles. In thisembodiment a single spring 97 is employed between the end disc 92a andthe bearing disc 98 adjacent the pin 450. In operation, the operativepressure exerted by the single spring 97 is determined by the positionof the rod 37a and the pin 45a, all of the coacting discs 91, 92 beingyieldably brought into frictional engagement with the threads in themanner aforesaid.

FIGURE 18 shows this invention applied to machines not of thechange-color type. In this embodiment the needles 99 are all threadedwith yarn 100 of a selected color or type, there being no inoperative orretracted needles threaded with other yarn as in the machine first:above described. However, there are a plurality of sets of pairs ofdiscs in the tension control device 101 for operatively engaging threadsbeing worked and others that are idle but held ready for subsequent use.Thus, there is a set comprising the pairs of discs 102 operativelyengaging the said threads 100, there also being a set comprising thepairs of discs 103 engaging the idle threads 104 of another color ortype, the latter being wound over .the shaft 26a of the above-describedconventional ten- .sion release and pulling member 24a and carried backwith the thread ends temporarily positioned within the correspondingcoacting disc pairs 103. When it is desired to bring the threads 104'into operation, all that need be done is to remove threads 100 from theneedles, remove the threads 104 from their respective discs 103 andbring them into operative engagement with the shafts 25a and 26a of saidmember 24a and the respective needles, wind the loose end sections ofthreads 100 over the shaft 26a and bring said sections into engagementwith the discs 102 in the manner aforesaid. It is thus apparent thatwith this invention a conventional Schiflli machine could be adapted toreceive multi-color or type threads without the need to disengage unusedthreads as is required in ma chines equipped with the conventional emeryrollers.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by wayof example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations andmodifications may be made therein. It is to be understood, therefore,that the invention is not limited to any form or manner of practicingsame, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In an embroidering apparatus of the class in which there are aplurality of embroidery needles operatively movable between operativeand inoperative positions and provided with means for drawing threadsalong predetermined thread paths from spool means, thread tensioncontrol means interposed between said needles and said spool means, saidcontrol means comprising a plurality of pairs of discs arranged in a rowextending longitudinally of the apparatus, the two discs of each pairhaving coacting gripping portions positioned and proportioned to engagetherebetween a thread operatively extending from said spool means to oneof said needles along one of said paths, said discs of each pair beingmovable relative to each other between predetermined thread-releasingand thread-pressing limiting position, said discs having aperturedportions in longitudinal alignment, a rod disposed longitudinally withinsaid apertured portions and movable between predetermined limitingpositions, a push member carried by said rod and operatively adjacent toone of said discs, a stop member in spaced relation to said push memberand in operative engagement with another of said discs, spring meansbetween said push and stop members and in engagement with at least oneof said discs, and actuating means connected to said rod for moving it,against the action of said spring means, in the direction where its saidpush member is caused to move towards said stop member and consequentlycause a compression of the discs between said push and stop members,whereby the respective coacting discs of all said pairs aresimultaneously caused to move towards their respective thread-pressinglimiting positions, said actuating means being operatively movable intimed relation to the operative movements of said needles, saidactuating means having a movable roller carrier member connected to saidrod, cam rollers operatively supported by said carrier, and cam meanscoactive with said rollers and positioned and proportioned foroperatively engaging said rollers and thereby operatively actuating saidcarrier to move said rod between its said limiting positions.

2. In an embroidering apparatus of the class in which there are aplurality of embroidery needles operatively movable between operativeand inoperative positions and provided with means for drawing threadsalong predetermined thread paths from spool means, thread tensioncontrol means interposed between said needles and said spool means, saidcontrol means comprising a plurality of pairs of discs arranged in a rowextending longitudi nally of the apparatus, the two discs of each pairhaving coacting gripping portions positioned and proportioned to engagetherebetween a thread operatively extending from said spool means to oneof said needles along one of said paths, said discs of each pair beingmovable relative to each other between predetermined thread-releasingand thread-pressing limiting position, said discs having aperturedportions in longitudinal alignment, a rod disposed longitudinally withinsaid apertured portions and movable between predetermined limitingpositions, a push member carried by said rod and operatively adjacent toone of said discs, a stop member in spaced relation to said push memberand in operative engagement with another of said discs, spring meansbetween said push and stop members and in engagement with at least oneof said disc, and actuating means connected to said rod for moving it,against the action of said spring means, in the direction where its saidpush member is caused to move towards said stop member and consequentlycause a compression of the discs between said push and stop members,whereby the respective coacting discs of all said pairs aresimultaneously caused to move towards their respective thread-pressinglimiting positions, said actuating means being operatively movable intimed relation to the operative movements of said needles, saidactuating means having a movable roller carrier member connected to saidrod, two cam rollers operatively supported by said carrier, two camsoperatively engageable with said respective rollers, one of said camsbeing proportioned and positioned for operatively engaging its coactiveroller to actuate said carrier and cause a corresponding operativepositioning of said rod to one of its said predetermined limitingpositions, the other of said cams being proportioned and positioned foroperatively engaging its coactive roller to actuate said carrier andcause a corresponding operative movement of said rod to the other of itssaid predetermined limiting positions.

3. In an em-broidering apparatus of the class in which there are aplurality of embroidery needles operatively movable between operativeand inoperative positions and provided with means for drawing threadsalong predetermined thread paths from spool means, thread tensioncontrol means interposed between said needles and said spool means, saidcontrol means comprising a plurality of thread-engaging memberspositioned along said respective paths, each of said members beingproportioned to slidably and frictionally engage a thread operativelyextending from said spool means to one of said needles, and preliminarytension release means disposed between said spool means and said tensioncontrol means, said release means comprising two rods extendinglongitudinally of the apparatus and positioned and proportioned toslidably engage therebetween threads operatively extending from saidspool means to said tension control means, one of said rods beingmovable between two limiting positions, one of the said positions beingmore proximate to said spool means than the other, and actuating meansoperatively connected to said movable rod for moving it between saidlimiting positions in predetenmined timed relation to the operativemovements of said needles, whereby there will be alternate tighteningsand slackenings of the threads operatively engaged by said rods in saidtimed relation with said needle movements.

4. In an embroidering apparatus the combination according to claim 16,one of said rods being stationary, a hub rotatably mounted over saidstationary rod, two oppositely positioned arms carried by said hub, oneof said arms carrying the said movable rod, reciprocating meansoperatively connected to the other of said arms, said ac- 10 tuatingmeans being operatively connected to said reciprocating means.

5. In an embroidering apparatus of the class in which there are aplurality of embroidery needles operatively movable between operativeand inoperative positions and provided with means for drawing threadsalong predetermined thread paths from spool means, thread tensioncontrol means interposed between said needles and said spool means, saidcontrol means comprising a plurality of pairs of discs arranged in a rowextending longitudinally of the apparatus, the two discs of each pairhaving coacting gripping portions positioned and proportioned to engagetherebetween a thread operatively extending from said spool means to oneof said needles along one of said paths, said discs of each pair beingmovable relative to each other between predetermined thread-releasingand thread-pressing limiting positions, and actuating means operativelyconnected to said pairs of discs for simultaneously moving them betweentheir said limiting positions in predetermined timed relation to theoperative movements of said needles, preliminary tension release meansdisposed between said spool means and said tension control uneans, saidrelease means comprising two rods extending longitudinally of theapparatus and positioned and proportioned to slidably receive over oneof said rods and under the other of said rods threads operativelyextending from said spool means to all of said pairs of discs, one ofsaid rods being movable between two limiting positions, one of the saidpositions being more proximate to said spool means than the other, andactuating means operatively connected to said movable rod for moving itbetween said last-mentioned limiting positions in predetermined timedrelation to the operative movements of said needles, whereby there willbe alternate tightenings and slackenings of the threads operativelyengaged by said rods in said timed relation with said needle movements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,008,650 11/1911 Kobler 112--831,057,558 4/1913 Keller 11289 2,246,989 6/ 1941 Sparkes 242 2,696,60812/ 1954 Hangartner 112255 X 3,025,808 3/ 1962 Marschik 112-84 FOREIGNPATENTS 176,553 10/1906 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN AN EMBROIDERING APPARATUS OF THE CLASS IN WHICH THERE ARE APLURALITY OF EMBROIDERY NEEDLES OPERATIVELY MOVABLE BETWEEN OPERATIVEAND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS AND PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR DRAWING THREADSALONG PREDETERMINED THREAD PATHS FROM SPOOL MEANS, THREAD TENSIONCONTROL MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID NEEDLES AND SAID SPOOL MEANS, SAIDCONTROL MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF DISCS ARRANGED IN A ROWEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE APPARATUS, THE TWO DISCS OF EACH PAIRHAVING COACTING GRIPPING PORTIONS POSITIONED AND PROPORTIONED TO ENGAGETHEREBETWEEN A THREAD OPERATIVELY EXTENDING FROM SAID SPOOL MEANS TO ONEOF SAID NEEDLES ALONG ONE OF SAID PATHS, SAID DISCS OF EACH PAIR BEINGMOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER BETWEEN PREDETERMINED THREAD-RELEASINGAND THREAD-PRESSING LIMITING POSITION, SAID DISCS HAVING APERTUREDPORTIONS IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT, A ROD DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY WITHINSAID APERTURED PORTIONS AND MOVABLE BETWEEN PREDETERMINED LIMITINGPOSITIONS, A PUSH MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID ROD AND OPERATIVELY ADJACENT TOONE OF SAID DISCS, A STOP MEMBER IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID PUSH MEMBERAND IN OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH ANOTHER OF SAID DISCS, SPRING MEANSBETWEEN SAID PUSH AND STOP MEMBERS AND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH AT LEAST ONEOF SAID DISCS, AND ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ROD FOR MOVING IT,AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING MEANS, IN